Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) has welcomed the 'biggest-ever' action in the history of Maharashtra against school management to derecognize 600 schools belonging to politicians on the basis of a state-wide survey of all government aided schools, popularly known as 'PAT TAPASANI-PARDESI PATTERN.'

“This will save more than Rs 1,000 crore being paid as grants for mid-day meals and uniforms for millions of fake bogus students. We demand criminal prosecution against schools; management and recovery of all grants paid in the name of millions of bogus students,” demanded Kishor Tiwari of VJAS, a farmers’ advocacy group.

In
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Following a report of the then Nanded district collector Shikar Pardesi, an in-depth survey of schools in Nanded district in year 2011 revealed shocking truth that 1.35 lakh of the seven lakh students in 3,475 schools in the district were bogus.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has ordered a statewide survey on ‘fake’ students which created storm in political circlse as state survey revealed that 20 lakh of the 2.16 crore students were ‘bogus’ and 1200 schools were identified in this scam, mostly run by MLAs/MPs of all parties which were lobbying for scraping the survey.

In a surprise move, however, 600 schools with more than 50% bogus students have been derecognized and a stern warning issued to those 600 schools with 20-50% fake students.

"We are following the survey since it was initiated in Nanded district popularly known as 'Pat Tapasani' and we are not happy with the response of the state government after the report about Nanded was submitted to the state cabinet who decided to conduct the survey throughout the state and it was done in Maharashtra with the help of more than one lakh staff and police force between October 3-5. The final report shows that in Maharashtra more than 2 million students are bogus, and each year the school management is getting bogus grant to the tune of more than Rs. 2200 crore amounting to tune of Rs.20 thousands crore in the last 15 years,” Tiwari alleged.

In Maharashtra, more than 10,000 schools and more than 5000 tribal residential schools known as ‘ASHRAM SHALA’ are showing fake students to grab more than Rs. 3000 crore grant and the state is paying salary to more than 12000 teachers which are on fake payrolls.

“Hence, we welcome action against six hundred schools after it was confirmed that they had collected grants after showing bogus students on their rolls but massive grant which amounts to more than Rs.20000 crore paid to these schools should be recovered. This is criminal breach of trust and a case of fraud, hence criminal action against culprits is must,” Tiwari said, adding, “We urge Maharashtra CM to initiate action against erring school managements.”